Enzyme responsive materials: design strategies and future developments

Abstract

Enzyme responsive materials (ERMs) are a class of stimuli responsive materials with broad application potential in biological settings. This review highlights current and potential future design strategies for ERMs and provides an overview of the present state of the art in the area. Mischa ZelzerMischa Zelzer completed his first degree in Chemistry at the Technical University Graz (AT) in 2005. He then moved to the UK where he obtained his PhD from the University of Nottingham in 2009. Subsequently, he joined the University of Strathclyde (UK) in 2010 as a postdoctoral researcher. In 2012, Mischa was awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship and moved to the Technical University of Eindhoven (NL). Mischa's research interests are in stimuli responsive materials and interfaces with a particular emphasis on enzyme responsiveness and biological applications. Simon J. ToddSimon J. Todd after obtaining a BSc (Hons) degree in Biomedical Materials Science from the University of Nottingham, including a final year project under Prof. D. Grant on the functionalisation of diamond-like carbon with albumin, took a year out to travel in North America. He completed a PhD in the construction of enzyme responsive surfaces at the University of Manchester supervised by Dr Ulijn and Dr J. Gough. Simon then went on to work for the award-winning start up company Renephra.

Stimuli-sensitive intrinsically disordered protein brushes

“…The extensive suite of proteases and protease recognition sites-any of which could be introduced into the sequence at one or more arbitrary positions-should provide a versatile toolbox for controlling IDP brush properties in a dynamic and specific manner. Analogous enzymatically addressable materials have been explored for a variety of applications such as payload delivery 42 , diagnostic monitoring 43 and ligand presentation [44][45][46] . Although much effort has been focused on understanding the biological function of endogenous IDPs, our study suggests that these proteins represent an untapped resource for biomaterial design.…”

Enzyme-Triggered Cargo Release from Methionine Sulfoxide Containing Copolypeptide Vesicles

“…1,2 Although many different enzymes and substrates have been used in ERMs, most of these rely on bond formation or cleavage reactions that primarily employ proteases, nucleases, or kinases/phosphatases. Many ERMs also utilize specific peptide or oligonucleotide sequences as enzyme substrates, 1,2 which in turn increases the cost and complexity of ERM preparation. To enable widespread use of ERMs in various applications, such as diagnostics, sensors, drug delivery, adaptive surfaces, and regenerative medicine, it would be advantageous to be able to create ERMs that respond to different classes of enzymatic reactions, and that can be prepared using atom economical, scalable methods.…”

“…1 Numerous ERMs have been developed based on hydrogel or micelle structures, which can be switched between assembled and disassembled forms using enzymes under mild conditions. 1,2 Although many different enzymes and substrates have been used in ERMs, most of these rely on bond formation or cleavage reactions that primarily employ proteases, nucleases, or kinases/phosphatases. Many ERMs also utilize specific peptide or oligonucleotide sequences as enzyme substrates, 1,2 which in turn increases the cost and complexity of ERM preparation.…”

Nanopropulsion by Biocatalytic Self-Assembly

“…[32][33][34] Biocatalytic self-assembly has been reported over recent years with a variety of enzymes and peptidic substrates. 35,36 Aromatic amphiphiles offer a versatile platform for biocatalytic selfassembly due to their chemical simplicity they can be easily synthesized and functionalized with groups recognized as substrates. In particular, incorporation of phosphorylated tyrosine groups which can be cleaved by alkaline phosphatase, dramatically changes the hydro-phobic/philic balance, enabling conversion of non-assembling precursors to self-assembly building blocks.…”